The two most pervasive problems in our country, India, are poverty and hunger. The underprivileged sectors of society work their entire lives to acquire enough money to buy two loaves of bread each day. Due to the involvement of children in the working class in society, they are unable to send their students to school. For the benefit of various groups in society, the government has implemented a number of initiatives and policies. One of these is the mid-day meal programme, which also advertises the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
The first meal of the day is breakfast. A nutritious meal gives the body what it needs to start the day by replenishing blood sugar (glucose) and providing energy. It has been demonstrated that eating breakfast promotes both physical and mental wellness. All ages should have breakfast, but kids and teenagers especially should. Children that eat breakfast tend to be more focused, have higher problem-solving abilities, and have better eye-hand coordination.
On September 15 2022, the birth anniversary of DMK founder leader and former Chief Minister C N Annadurai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin introduced his administration’s ambitious programme to offer free breakfast to government school pupils in grades one through five.
The eagerly anticipated program is considered an expansion of the state-initiated mid-day meals program, which was developed in the 1920s to address child malnutrition. On September 15, the anniversary of Annadurai’s birth, Stalin introduced the program in Madurai, according to a senior government official who spoke to DH.
DH stated in August that the programme is most likely to debut on September 15. Up to 1.14 lakh students in more than 1,500 government-run schools in cities, towns, villages, and remote locations will have a hot breakfast in the first phase before they start class in the morning.
The government has instructed district administrations to make the appropriate arrangements so that breakfast can be prepared by 7:30 AM in community kitchens or on school grounds. For the session to start on time, the food must be provided to the students by 8:30 AM.
It is important that the schemes are implemented for diverse reasons. The Benefits of Introducing the Day Meal Program. The introduction of the day meal programme in India has a number of advantages. The following benefits are listed:
-In order to provide their children with a meal of nutritious food each day, parents in rural and tribal communities have started sending their kids to school.
-A sizable number of students have begun to consistently attend the schools.
-The education of girls in underdeveloped communities was boosted by this project. In turn, this has led to an increase in the proportion of female pupils in schools.
-Previously, residents in rural and underdeveloped areas didn’t like to send their daughters to school.
-Students’ perceptions of social equality improved as a result of the campaign.
-The programme contributed to a greater sense of social equality among school children. In the school, everyone who attends eats together, regardless of caste, creed, or religion. The pupils feel more equal as a result of this.
The government has launched a number of measures to ensure that children from unstable financial backgrounds receive a high-quality education. The mid-day meal plan is one of the most well-known and successful strategies. It has been observed that young people do not get the recommended number of calories for daily activity.
Children are the nation’s future, so it is important that they receive enough nutrition and other essentials so that they can learn effectively. If they receive the right education, they can access better possibilities and represent the nation with pride. One fantastic government project to support kids in leading healthier lives is Mid-Day Meal.
PUBLISHED BY: SANDIPAN DUTTA
